Android is a Linux based open source operating system which has JAVA library (similar to SE). And it is a robot or synthetic organism. There is a general thought that Google owns Android. But not just Google, there is Open Handset Alliance™, a group of 65 technology and mobile companies including mobile operators, semiconductor companies, handset manufacturers; software companies commercialization companies who own Android.
A fastest growing platform
The use of Android-based smartphones is increasing exponentially. The Android mobile phone market is growing at an impressive rate, with new handsets being released all the time. Industry experts believe the boom owes much to the popularity of the Motorola Droid, MotoBLUR, certain HTC models, and the open-source nature of the OS.
Advantages of Android platform

• GSM, EDGE, CDMA, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, EV-DO and UMTS technologies to send/receive data across mobile networks.
• Comprehensive libraries for 2D and 3D graphics.
• A wide range of libraries for image, audio and video files.
• Features of Video camera, Touchscreen, GPS, accelerometer and magnetometer.
• Interprocess communication (IPC) message passing.
• P2P using Google Talk.
• SQLite for data storage.
• Export and signing app for publishing